A BUYER for the £18.5 million Hurs-ley Estate is set to be agreed in the next three weeks - ahead of schedule.

Estate agents Smiths Gore say the 5,000 acres of rolling Hampshire hills have attracted interest from five parties - one of which is an overseas investor.

Groups of local farmers have also shown an interest in what has been billed as the biggest sale of a single block of land this year.

Smiths Gore partner Adrian Neal said he thought the estate near the village of Hursley, which includes 4,000 acres of arable and dairy land, 30 houses, the remains of a 12th century castle and part of the Farley Mount beauty spot, would go as a single entity.

He said the deal was coming together quicker than expected: "There has been a lot of interest in the four weeks since the estate was launched.

"We would hope to be able to say within the next three weeks that a buyer has been identified.

"We have had a viewing most working days since September 5. There are five parties who are showing serious interest in the whole, with local farmers also showing interest through consortia represented by local agents."

Tenants of some of the 30 properties due to be sold in the multi-million pound deal are said to be worried about the future security of their homes as many of their lease contracts can be terminated at two months' notice.

The Hursley Estate was owned by the Cooper family until 1982.

During the Second World War it was used as a development centre for the Spitfire.

It is presently owned by The St Martin's Property Corporation Ltd, although the main manor house was sold off to IBM in 1961.

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